A college student in Nebraska is fighting to keep thousands of dollars in scholarship funds after revelations about her past relationship with another woman resulted in her expulsion from Grace University, a small Bible college in Omaha.

Danielle Powell says that Grace University is demanding she cover over $6,000 in scholarships she received during her undergraduate career. After eight months of being denied a transcript transfer because of the outstanding balance, making it impossible to transfer to another university, Powell has started a Change.org petition to demand that Grace University forgive the debt and allow her to transfer.

"I don't think a lot of people are aware of the fact that you legally can be kicked out of a school in 2013 for being gay," Powell said. "Yes, this is a legal, financial petition, technically speaking, but there's a lot of morals and social justice tied into it that is getting I think some necessary exposure."

After word of Powell's previous relationship with another woman worked its way up to top administrators, the two women were brought to campus to attend a judiciary hearing in which they were questioned separately about their relationship and their remorse. Powell was initially suspended and told she could re-enroll for her final semester if she agreed to a restoration program involving mandatory church attendance, meetings with counselors and mentors, and keeping in touch with a dean. Powell began the program, but was notified later that the administration had decided on expulsion instead.

Most Bible colleges, including Grace University, require students to sign a statement of faith and conduct when they enroll that usually includes rules against "sexually immoral behavior, including premarital sex, adultery, and homosexual acts."

A new trailer for the upcoming historical drama from Precious director Lee Daniels. The film tells the story of Cecil Gaines, an African-American who eyewitnesses major events of the 20th century during his tenure as a White House butler. Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah, Robin Williams and many, many more...

"I think discussion is good, but friends, this is a simple issue. You either support civil rights or you don't," Hunt said. "Know that there are many of us on the council who stand with you and will stand with you on this issue. It is a civil rights issue. We will be there on marriage equality. We will stand with you. Let's not let any diversion about process distract us from the real issue."

Hunt is leaving the council because of term limits, and says she regrets not being able to vote "yes" on the resolution. Fortunately, the two candidates vying to replace Hunt were seated with the LGBT speakers in the audience in a show of support.

Scott Briggs, the council member who originally offered the marriage equality resolution, predicts it will pass once it makes it onto the council's voting agenda. That all depends, however, on preventing candidates like this from taking office.

Russia's LGBT community will have its first-ever float in New York City's LGBT Pride parade on June 30, Radio Free Europe reports:

The parade's message has long resonated with Pasha Zalutski (above), a 31-year-old native of Belarus who won the U.S. green-card lottery in the early 2000s. While attending the parade last year that message, carried on the rhythms of dance music, resonated loudly enough to spur him into action.

He and a group of gay and lesbian friends, all from the former Soviet Union, decided to do something that he says would be "impossible" back home. A year later, they are scrambling to collect the money and finish preparations for what will be the parade's first-ever Russian and ex-Soviet float.

Said Zalutski: "Of course I wish I could tell you that we're going to have this fabulous theme [and] a statue of Lenin dressed up as a drag queen! No, we're not having that. Due to budget constraints we're keeping it rather modest. Our motivation is to truly celebrate our freedom here. We are not in it to try to transmit some very crafted message outside of the United States."